Cover for baskets and the like



Nov. 22, 1927.

J. ARMSTRONG COVER FOR BASKETS AND THE LIKE Filed Oct. 25, 1924 AWz/C Mw htz'zuoalfm mg WMLQW riM- Patented Nov. 22, 1927.

PATENT OFFICE.

JULIAN ARMSTRONG, OF EVANSTON, ILLINOIS.

COVER FOR BASKETS AND THE LIKE.

Application filed October 25, 1924. Serial No. 745,813.-

This invention relates to improvements in covers for baskets, and more particularly to covers formed from sheet material, such as fibre board and the like.

The object or the invention is to provide a. closure suitable for baskets or crates used for the packing and shipment of fruit and other perishable products, and intended to be securely bound around the edges ofthe basket, and of ample strength to permit the piling of baskets one upon the other without danger of crushing the contents. Such a closure is intended to replace the ordinary wooden crate-like lids that have heretofore been in use and which are not only weak and readily broken, but are insecurely wired to the basket, thus causing considerable spoilage in shipment due to crushed and loosened lids.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is disclosed in theaccompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a plan view of the cover in flattened form, and

Figure 2 is a perspective View of a basket with the cover applied. V

The cover A is a circular blank cut from sheets of a suitable grade of tough and durable composition board, commonly termed iibre board. The cutting or stamping of the blanks consists in forming about the marginal portions 13, of the cover, a plurality of radial slits or kerts a, of a narrow V-shape. For the average sized bushel-basketthe central circular portion would be approximately eighteen inches in diameter and the marginal portion B about three and one-half inches. The slits a; are for the most part separated intervals of about two inches, thus providing' a plurality of intermediate flaps C there-between. However, at four points spaced apart at 90 degrees, a slit is omitted, thus forming wider flaps D at each of these points and twice the width of the flaps O. In each of these flaps D and located on either side of their approximate centers is a pair of holes or eyes d, d, all arranged concentrically. At the apex of the slits a on either side of the larger flaps D are preferably formed circular recesses A which serve to receive the vertical portions of the wire handles with which the baskets are provided, as will presently be explained. Moreover, the central portion of the cover may be perforated as at F, where such is desired.

The application of a cover A to a basket Guis shown in Figure 2. The basket is of the conventional shape, with slightly flaring side walls and a band surrounding the upper edge. At diametricallyvopposed points are upstanding wire handles H, of the usual shape. 7 a

The cover is applied over the filled basket, and the flaps C and D which may be previously bent down along scored fold lines along the base of each flap, enclose the upper portion of the basket. cover in place, a wire or metal strap I is threaded through the holes d, d in the flaps D, D and passing around the marginal portion of the cover is drawn tight and secured in any suitable manner. In this way the side edges of the flaps are brought into abutting contact, due to the V-shape of the slits a which prevent overlapping of the flaps when drawn tightly against the sides of the basket. The fastening strap is preferably below the band surrounding the'edge of the basket, so that when tightened, it prevents the cover from being removed, except by cutting the strap.

I claim as my invention:

A cover for baskets and like containers having loop handles, consisting of a circular sheet of relatively stiff fibrous material having its peripheral port-ion slit radially to ,form a plurality of flaps adapted to'be bent downwardly around the edges of the container in substantially abutting'contact along their radial edges, certain of said flaps being of increased width and so disposed as to pass through said handles and provided with openings therein, and a flexible band adapted to encircle said flaps and to be threaded through said openings.

Signed at Chicago, 111., this 16th day of October 1924. v

. JULIAN ARMSTRONG.

To secure the 

